Here’s how much a 2020 Mazda Miata depreciated in five years

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is popular for good reason. It’s one of the best driver’s cars in the world and it continues to attract buyers with a well-thought-out chassis that delivers an enjoyable on-road ride. That’s paired with a punchy, revving Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, all courtesy of a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic. The 0-60 time is also impressive, with the fastest versions of the car able to achieve this feat in 5.5 seconds.

Add to that the fact that it is known for being reliable and cheap to repair, and the Miata’s appeal among used car buyers becomes more apparent. This is evident in the way it maintains an impressively high resale value. Take the 2020 Mazda Miata. Kelly Blue book Data shows that after five years of normal ownership, the car has retained approximately 64% of its value. That’s about the same as the value retention of a new Miata according to iSeeCars estimates, making the MX-5 Miata the least depreciating Mazda vehicle, ahead of the CX-3, Mazda3 and Mazda CX-30 – with the latter model among the best new cars offering the most bang for your buck.

The 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata has absorbed most of its original cost. That’s according to data from Kelly Blue Book, which shows the sports car has only lost about $7,000 over the past four years, while excluding 2021 depreciation, leaving owners with a current trade-in value of nearly $18,000 and a resale value of more than $15,000. If you look at the 2020 Miata’s starting MSRP of $27,525 (which applies to the base Sport Convertible trim level), the current resale value and five-year depreciation rate is only about 35%.

However, the 2020 Club Convertible and Grand Touring Convertible trims appear to be experiencing faster depreciation. The five-year depreciation is 42.6%, given the starting MSRP of $33,615 and the current retail value of $19,295. The Club Convertible trim (starting at $31,235 with a current retail value of $19,094) loses almost 39% of its value. The Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is in an even worse position, as the hardtop appears to have lost almost 44% of its original value of $33,990, given its current retail value of $19,117. Please note that these rates reflect the current situation and prices may change depending on trends in the used car market.

While the Mazda MX-5 Miata’s value retention is impressive, the fact that it’s in the affordable sports car segment means it’s going up against its equally popular platform-sharing twins: the Toyota 86 (which was later replaced by the 2022 Toyota GR86) and the Subaru BRZ. These are also known for holding their values ​​exceptionally well. Given a 2020 Toyota 86’s starting MSRP of $28,775 and its current retail value of $18,127, a driver who bought the car new can expect depreciation of only about 37%.

Owners of a 2020 Subaru BRZ, meanwhile, can get $17,238 back after paying $29,745 for a base model five years ago. That brings the Subie’s five-year depreciation rate to 42%. However, if you own one of these, it’s important to remember that value retention will vary depending on your specific equipment, your car’s condition, mileage, and existing market conditions at the time you’re ready to sell.